Washington County Weekend Post

GMTODAY.COM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • 5A Toothy grins and a mes- merizing orange glow help make jack-o'-lanterns capti- vating sights come Hal- loween. Pumpkin carving is an autumn tradition and runs the gamut of simple designs to more intricate art- work worthy of any medium. Although anyone can grab a pumpkin and get started, when done correctly, jack-o'- lantern designs can last for several days. • Start with a fresh pumpkin. Look for pump- kins that have a thick, green stem. These usually are fresh and haven't been han- dled much. A thick stem also may indicate fleshier pump- kin walls that can be carved more easily. Avoid pumpkins that are soft or full of blem- ishes, or those that have dried, shriveled stems. • Cut a hole in the back. Rather than impeding the structural integrity of the pumpkin by cutting off the top and the stem for interior access, cut a hole in the back of the pumpkin. This will still make it easy to reach inside and clean out the pumpkin. • Scoop out the pulp and seeds. Be sure to thor- oughly clean the inside of the pumpkin. Leaving the pulpy, stringy matter and seeds inside can cause the pumpkin to rot that much faster and produce a foul odor. Scoopers, spoons and even hand shovels can help. • Keep it cool. Heat can adversely affect carved pumpkins, so work in a cool area and store the pumpkin in a cold garage or refrigera- tor if you need a few extra days before displaying it. Also, carving experts sug- gest using an electric light inside rather than a candle; by using a candle, you're essentially cooking the pumpkin from the inside. • Work in your lap. When carving faces or intri- cate designs, looking down onto the pumpkin provides more control. • Don't cut all the way through. Many pumpkin designers end up shaving or scraping off the outer rind of the pumpkin, but leave a del- icate orange film under- neath. Light can still shine through, but the design will not collapse on itself as easi- ly if you were to cut straight through the pumpkin wall. Experiment with different tools to achieve the desired look. • Maintain the fresh- ness. Rubbing exposed areas of the pumpkin flesh with petroleum jelly may help keep the pumpkin moist. Some designs will last for a few days. However, since pumpkins are highly perish- able, it's wise to wait to carve until a day or two before putting a pumpkin on dis- play. Learn how to carve a better pumpkin

• Cover